TicketsORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team wrapped up its second-straight Big 12 series win on Sunday with an 8-2 victory vs. UCF.
The Bearcats (25-19, 11-10 Big 12) got off to a good start with a three-run first inning and led, 4-0, after two. The Knights (26-15, 9-12 Big 12) plated two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 4-2, and the score would remain unchanged until the final inning. After neither side managed to find the scoreboard in innings four through eight, UC plated four runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
The pressure of the moment proved to be no match for Cincinnati, as it scored all eight of its runs on Sunday with two outs.
UC pounded out 16 hits and five Bearcats had multi-hit efforts. Josh Kross went 4-for-5 at the plate, tying his career high with four hits. Luke Sefcik matched his season-best total with three hits and had two RBI, while Tommy O'Connor, Josh Hegemann, and Lauden Brooks all had two-hit efforts. Brooks drove in three runs and Hegemann had two RBI to help the cause.
On the mound, Tommy Boba made the start and struck out three in four innings. Out of the bullpen, Chase Horst and Griffin Hugus shut down the UCF hitters, combining for five scoreless innings. Horst earned the win and Hugus earned his second save of the year, striking out four in three shutout frames.
Cincinnati visits Ohio State on Tuesday evening before returning home next weekend to host West Virginia, who are tied for second place in the Big 12 standings with Oklahoma State. First pitch for Friday's opener is set for 5 PM at UC Baseball Stadium.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati struck first in a big way, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. All three runs came with two outs, the first of which was driven in by Luke Sefcik on an RBI single into right-center field. Josh Hegemann and Lauden Brooks followed with RBI singles to drive in runs two and three, respectively, to give UC its early lead.
Josh Kross made it 4-0 in the top of the second on a base hit into left field, scoring Tommy O'Connor from second base.
UCF halved the lead in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run home run to put the score at 4-2.
From there it turned into a pitcher's duel, as neither staff surrendered a run until the ninth inning. For UC, it was Chase Horst and Griffin Hugus who kept the score at 4-2 with their solid pitching out of the bullpen.
In the top of the ninth, Cincinnati scored four runs to increase its lead to 8-2. As it had all afternoon, UC capitalized on two-out opportunities. Sefcik got the scoring started with a base hit through the left side of the infield to bring home Sean Springer, then Hegemann poked a base hit into left field to bring in another run. Brooks put the final nail in the coffin with a two-run double down the line in left field that capped the scoring.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
The Bearcats (25-19, 11-10 Big 12) got off to a good start with a three-run first inning and led, 4-0, after two. The Knights (26-15, 9-12 Big 12) plated two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 4-2, and the score would remain unchanged until the final inning. After neither side managed to find the scoreboard in innings four through eight, UC plated four runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
The pressure of the moment proved to be no match for Cincinnati, as it scored all eight of its runs on Sunday with two outs.
UC pounded out 16 hits and five Bearcats had multi-hit efforts. Josh Kross went 4-for-5 at the plate, tying his career high with four hits. Luke Sefcik matched his season-best total with three hits and had two RBI, while Tommy O'Connor, Josh Hegemann, and Lauden Brooks all had two-hit efforts. Brooks drove in three runs and Hegemann had two RBI to help the cause.
On the mound, Tommy Boba made the start and struck out three in four innings. Out of the bullpen, Chase Horst and Griffin Hugus shut down the UCF hitters, combining for five scoreless innings. Horst earned the win and Hugus earned his second save of the year, striking out four in three shutout frames.
Cincinnati visits Ohio State on Tuesday evening before returning home next weekend to host West Virginia, who are tied for second place in the Big 12 standings with Oklahoma State. First pitch for Friday's opener is set for 5 PM at UC Baseball Stadium.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati struck first in a big way, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. All three runs came with two outs, the first of which was driven in by Luke Sefcik on an RBI single into right-center field. Josh Hegemann and Lauden Brooks followed with RBI singles to drive in runs two and three, respectively, to give UC its early lead.
Josh Kross made it 4-0 in the top of the second on a base hit into left field, scoring Tommy O'Connor from second base.
UCF halved the lead in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run home run to put the score at 4-2.
From there it turned into a pitcher's duel, as neither staff surrendered a run until the ninth inning. For UC, it was Chase Horst and Griffin Hugus who kept the score at 4-2 with their solid pitching out of the bullpen.
In the top of the ninth, Cincinnati scored four runs to increase its lead to 8-2. As it had all afternoon, UC capitalized on two-out opportunities. Sefcik got the scoring started with a base hit through the left side of the infield to bring home Sean Springer, then Hegemann poked a base hit into left field to bring in another run. Brooks put the final nail in the coffin with a two-run double down the line in left field that capped the scoring.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.